Chemically-charged nozzle for fire-extinguishers



(No Model.)

W. O. STOCK & H. W.-TUFTS. GHEMIGALLY CHARGED NOZZLE FORPIRBEXTINGUISHERS.

No. 577,121. Patented Feb. 16,1897.

INVEN'T'EIRE.

WITNESEEE.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. STOCK AND HARRY TUFTS, OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGII,liIASSACIIUSETTS.

CH EMlCALLY-CHARG ED NOZZLE 'FOR FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,121, dated February16,1897. vApplioatlon filed October 19, 1895. Serial No. 666,254. Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM G. S'roeK in the county of Bristol, in theState of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Chemically-Charged Nozzles for Fire-Extinguishers; and wedeclare the following to be a specification thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings.

Like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a longitudinalsection of our invention with the chemicalcartridge in position in the chamber and with the ball-valve thereinshown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the sameafter the chemical cartridge has been wholly used up and the ball-valvehas been forced into its forward position to stop the flow of water.Fig. 3 is a top plan of the valve which admits the water from the hoseto the nozzle or shuts ofi the water when desired. Fig. 4 shows in frontand side elevation the strainer at the forward end of the chamber. Fig.5 shows afront and side elevation of the washer which forms a seat forthe ball-valve in its forward position.

Our invention consists of the combination of a nozzle in two parts, onebeing a dischargepipe enlarged circumferentially at its inner endand theother being a tubular chamber or pipe having a straight end fitted by ascrew-thread to the enlarged end of the discharge-pipe -and its oppositeend hemispherically enlarged and provided with astraight water-passageof smaller diameter than the bore of said tubular chamber, a water cookor valve to admit or shut ofi the water, a ball or valve of a diameterless than the diameter of said bore and adapted to move in said chamberfrom end to end, and a cartridge made of suitable chemical substances,formed in a cylindrical shape and adapted to be loosely inserted insaid-chamber, as hereinafter particularl y specified.

In the drawings,A represents the dischargepipe of a nozzle having thesmall tapering bore a, as usual, and provided with a hemisphericalenlargement b.

5 B is a hemispherical. strainer, of wire or perforated met-a1, fastenedwithin the enlarged end b of the discharge-pipe A.

C is a tubular chamber or pipe having a straight end, which is fittedinto the enlarged end b of the discharge-pipe A by'a screwthread, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. lar chamber 0 has a hemispherical enlargement 0at its opposite end, and from the center thereof is a tube or pipe (I,integral therewith, whose bore opens into said tubular chamber 0. At theend of the tube or pipe cl it is provided with a screw-threaded coupling6, by which it can be coupled to a hose.

The pipe (I is circumferentially enlarged to form a boss f, which has adiametrical'tapering aperture to receive-the tapering valve or cock D.This valve D has a water way or opening-m of a diameter equal to thediameter of the bore of the pipe (I. The valve D is provided with asquare shoulder a. A'loop or handle E has at one end a square opening tofit upon the square end of the valve D, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.3, and screws 0 o, passing through the ends of the looped handle E,fasten it to the valve D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A ball or valve F, of a diameter less than that of the bore of thetubular chamber 0, is inserted loosely in said boreand is movabletherein from end to end by the force of the waterpressure.

tact by the force of the water-pressure. At

Said tubu- When in the position seen in Fig. 1, said ball F has its seatin the bend-'- or near the forward or outer end of the charm ber C ithas an internal circumferentialgroove, within which is fitted a rubberwasher p.

The cartridge G is made of a combination of alkaline and acid substancesadapted,when exposed to the action of water, to generate carbonic-acidgas, and it is of such consist ency as to be readily soluble in Water.

The action ofi said device is as follows: \V hen the cartridge G hasbeen inserted in the chamber 0 and the ball F is forced home 1n to itsseat in the enlargement c of said chamher, the discharge-pipe A isscrewed on the end of said tubular chamber 0, as shown in Fig. 1, thevalve D in the meantime being closed, as seen in said Fig. 1, so that nowater can flow into or through the nozzle. In this condition the nozzlecan be kept charged for as long a time as necessary until the emergeneyarises which requires its use; I

Vhen it is desired to use the device for extinguishinga fire, the valveD is turned ninety degrees by the handle or loop E to the positlon shownin Fig. 2, where it is seen that the water way or opening at of theValve D is now continuous with the bore of the pipe or tube (Z. TheWater now flows from the hose with the full pressure of the engine orreservoir and passing around the ball F comes into contact with thechemical cartridge G and gradually dissolves said cartridge,thus formingcarbonic-acid gas, with which the water in the chamber at once becomesheavily charged. The so-charged water passing through the strainer E(which serves to retain any large pieces or particles of the chemicalcartridge which may be dissoly ed off) passes out through the bore a ofthe discharge-pipe A and instantly on touching the burning materialsmothers the flame by the carbonic-acid gas thus discharged with the jetof water from the nozzle.

As the cartridge G melts away and shortens the ball F is pressed forwardby the flowing water until said cartridge has been wholly dissolved. Theball 1* is then in the position seen in Fig. 2 and being forced into theopening of the elastic washer 19 forms therewith a valve entirelyshutting off the current of water, so that no more water can enter thedischarge-pipe A. The hosem an is thusnotified that the chemicalcartridge has been exhausted, and he then takes oil the dischargepipe Aand inserts another cartridge in the chamber C, first having turned thevalve D to the position shown in Fig. 1, the nozzle be ing thus chargedagain, as before, the discharge-pipe A'being screwed on again, and thevalve D once more opened to allow the flow of the water.

A chemical cartridge usually lasts for five minutes and should be madeto easily dissolve in that time. If made hard, it will last longer,being less soluble, but the water will be less charged withcarbonic-acid gas.

We claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent 1. The combination of a nozzle adapted to be connected with ahose, a soluble chemical cartridge loosely fitting within the nozzle anda valve within the nozzle movable by 'the pressure of the water-currenttherein and adapted to close the discharging end of the the dischargingend of the nozzle substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of anozzle, adapted to be connected with a hose, asoluble chemical cartridge, loosely fitting in thenozzle, a ball alsoloosely fitting'in the nozzle and adapted to lie in contact with saidcartridge by the pressure of the Water-current from said hose and astrainer in said nozzle near the end thereof, substantially asspecified.

4. The combination of a nozzle, adapted to be connected with a hose,asoluble chemical cartridge loosely fitting in the nozzle, a ball alsoloosely fitting in the nozzle and adapted to keep in contact with thecartridge by the force of the water-current from the hose, a strainernear the outer end of the nozzle, and

a washer having a central perforation of less diameter than that of theball, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the discharge-pipe A,-having the bore a andenlarged end I) and providedovith the strainer 15, the tubular chamber0, having the enlarged end 0 and the pipe (Z, opening therein, which isadapted to be connected with a hose, a valve D in the pipe (Z, the ballF within the chamber 0 of a less diameter than that of the bore of saidchamber, the soluble chemical cartridge, composedof'ingredients, which,when wet with water, generate carbonic-acid gas, and made in acylindrical shape so as to loosely fit in said chamber, and the washerpheld in the circumferential groove within the chamber and provided witha central perforation having a diameter larger than that of saidcartridge but less than that ot' said ball, substantially as shown andfor the purpose specified.

XVILLIAM C. STOCK. HARRY WV. TUFTS.

lVitnesses VVARREN R. PERCE, DANIEL W. FINK.

